Kaiapoi High School

Level 1 Music and Taonga Puoro

L1MUSP Course Description

Head of Faculty/Teacher in Charge: Mr E. Mead.

Recommended Prior Learning

This course has no prerequisites, however, if a student with no musical experience wishes to take Level 1 Music, they must be enthusiastic about learning an instrument. Performance is a large part of our course in Year 11, and students need to be willing to be involved. 

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Course Overview

What is taught in courses varies from year to year. This course could include:
Students will have the choice to engage with the following standards with a requirement that they are enrolled in a minimum of 4:

30236 – Māori Origins of Sound
Students will explore the Māori understanding of sound, learning about its whakapapa through the stories of ngā atua Māori. This standard helps students understand how sound is seen as a living force in te ao Māori, and how traditional instruments connect people to the natural world and spiritual realms.

30237 – Taonga Puoro Practitioner Study
Students will research an important taonga pūoro artist or maker. This could be a contemporary musician, instrument maker, or someone keeping traditional practices alive. Students will learn about their life, work, and how they contribute to the ongoing story of taonga pūoro today.

30238 – Collecting Natural Materials
Students will go on a field trip to gather natural materials such as wood, stone, or shells, and learn how to prepare them for creating their own taonga pūoro. This hands-on standard helps students connect to the environment and understand how traditional instruments are sourced and shaped respectfully.

30239 – Performing with Taonga Puoro
Students will perform sounds or pieces using the uncrafted taonga pūoro they have made. These performances are inspired by te taiao (the natural world), and focus on expressing environmental elements through sound. Students will develop confidence and creativity while learning how to voice the spirit of the land through music.

91091 - Performance
Students are required to perform on their chosen instrument in front of an audience. We provide multiple opportunities for students to perform throughout the year. Foremost are our concerts held at the end of terms 1-3. We also provide opportunities to perform around the school, and in class. Students who already perform outside of school can use these performances for their assessment as well.

91092 - Music Context
Students will engage with music from multiple differing contexts, including Māori music, and learn to make sense of the culture surrounding those pieces by looking into the relevant social and historical contexts.

91093 - Composition
Students will develop their songwriting knowledge and skills through a series of small compositions before composing a short song for their final submission. Students can compose in any medium they choose, including digitally.

Faculties:

The Arts

Pathway

Level 2 Music and Taonga Puoro

Career Pathways

Musician, Sound Technician, Art Director (Film, Television or Stage), Entertainer, Film and Video Editor, Media Producer, Director (Film, Television, Radio or Stage), Production Assistant (Film, Television, Radio or Stage), Radio Presenter, Tertiary Lecturer, Private Teacher/Tutor, Secondary School Teacher, Trainer, Game Developer, Artistic Director